Wednesday, November 6, 2013

PETALING JAYA: The National Sports Council (NSC) has identified several venues for the SEA Games 2017, which Malaysia will play host, said its director-general, Datuk Seri Zolkples Embong.

He said the NSC was also considering the Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak's recommendation for Sabah and Sarawak to be chosen among the venues.

"We cannot announce the venues yet until they are finalised with other parties, including national sports associations and the Olympic Council of Malaysia (OCM)," he told reporters at the launch of the Milo Flame of Energy Initiative here, today.

Yesterday, Youth and Sports Minister Khairy Jamaluddin said the Cabinet had approved a working paper on the hosting of the Games.

Zolkples reminded national sports associations not to make unreasonable demands on improvements to the venues to bring the costs of organising the Games under control.

"Except for the construction of a velodrome in Nilai (Negeri Sembilan) which was approved in the 2013 Budget, I feel the others are unnecessary.

"It does not make sense to fork out a lot of money to improve sports venues just because we are holding the SEA Games," he added.

Meanwhile, OCM secretary-general Datuk Sieh Kok Chi said the OCM helped cutcosts when Malaysia hosted the SEA Games in 1965, 1971, 1977, 1989 and 2001 and urged sports associations to do their bit by controlling costs.

The Milo Flame of Energy Initiative is the continuation of the Milo Fuelsfor Champions organised by Nestle Malaysia to garner the support of Malaysiansfor athletes competing in the Myanmar SEA Games in December. -- BERNAMA

Tuesday, November 5, 2013

MALAYSIA are almost assured of hosting the 2017 Southeast Asian Games (SEA Games) and Asian Para Games, after a memorandum which was handed in by Sports Minister Khairy Jamaluddin at a cabinet meeting last week was approved.

“The SEA Games was supposed to go to Brunei in 2017 and then us in 2019, but Brunei have proposed to host the 2019 Games as they need more time to get things prepared.

“The SEA Games Federation then approached us and gave us a choice to host it two years earlier and we did not turn down the offer. When I approached the cabinet, they were quick to respond and after the Olympic Council of Malaysia (OCM) sends in a formal letter, everything should be finalised,” stated the young minister.

Khairy has also assured the cost of hosting the Games two years earlier will not be an issue as Malaysia have all the facilities needed to run the sports competition.

“I’ve put the cost into consideration and we will not build any new facilities apart from the velodrome in Cheras.

“We will upgrade some facilities - this way we will save on the cost of hosting the SEA Games,” added Khairy.

The Rembau Member of Parliament (MP) is also considering to include Sabah and Sarawak in his hosting plans.

“Cost is the main factor to bring the Games there. Sarawak have a world standard aquatic centre and all aquatics events could be hosted by them,” Khairy said.

The Langkawi Island will play host to sailing, while track cycling will be contested in Nilai and road cycling in Johor Baru.